Listening to music while working helps some people focus better on the task at hand. Though you may prefer white noise or silence to music, we're betting that music accompanies at least some of the work you do. What's on your work playlist? »7/18/13 12:30pm 7/18/13 12:30pm

Reader Christopher is responsible for this week's Work Sounds: Interloper by Carbon Based Lifeforms. Christopher says they're an ambient duo from Sweden, and with their mellow, yet not-uninteresting sounds, they definitely qualify as a track you can leave on in the background while you work. »1/25/12 1:30pm 1/25/12 1:30pm

This week's Work Sounds is courtesy Adam Dachis, who recommends Lemon Jelly, a band that I've never heard of until now. It's light and poppy, and despite having vocals interspersed with the music, it's non-distracting enough to put on in the background. »1/18/12 1:30pm 1/18/12 1:30pm

This week's Work Sounds comes from commenter tomstrummer, who points us to the collaboration/split EP Confines of Heat, by The Mercury Program and Maserati. It's what you come to expect from WS: Little to no vocals and nothing too distracting or uptempo. »1/11/12 1:30pm 1/11/12 1:30pm

Reader Aaron sends in today's Work Sounds album, which he describes as "a 55 minute album of continuous instrumental electronic music." Lindstrom's Where You Go I Go Too definitely is that, providing a decent aural base for getting tasks done, being high energy enough to motivate you, but not high energy in a way… »1/04/12 1:30pm 1/04/12 1:30pm

Seeing as he was responsible for the first album we've featured here on Work Sounds, it's fitting that Brian Eno make at least one repeat performance here. Today, it's Apollo, which is darker and more dissonant than Music for Airports, but still falls neatly under the category of being able to listen to while you work. »12/28/11 1:30pm 12/28/11 1:30pm

Today's Work Sounds comes from reader bradshaw.cj, and is two hours of ambient, non-distracting music to get you through the day. And Their Refinement of the Decline by Stars of the Lid really sits in the background, rarely poking its head out enough that you'd notice it. And this, by (our) definition, makes for a… »12/21/11 1:00pm 12/21/11 1:00pm

Reader Erick recommended Blue Sky Black Death for Work Sounds, and their newest album Noir works pretty darn well. The album is ambient for sure, but might be slightly too high energy for some. »12/14/11 1:30pm 12/14/11 1:30pm

Reader Tommy submitted Arms And Sleepers' The Organ Hearts, which like other Wednesday Work Sounds, is ambient, but ambient in a way that could easily come from a movie soundtrack. When I listen to this, I picture a half-Lynchian, half-noir movie with the protagonist walking around (possibly in slow motion) solving… »12/07/11 1:30pm 12/07/11 1:30pm

Lifehacker readers are talented! This week's Work Sounds comes from reader Asfandyar Khan, who is an ambient musician from Pakistan. Like most Wednesday editions, the Snow Makes Things Perfect EP offers you a smooth, non-distracting aural surface for you to get your stuff done on. »11/30/11 12:00pm 11/30/11 12:00pm

If you're feeling lethargic after an extended holiday weekend, let The Rolling Stones motivate you into your work week with a little Start Me Up. Apart from being an upbeat kickstart to the week, it also holds the honor in many of our minds as the Windows 95 song. Good times! »11/28/11 9:30am 11/28/11 9:30am

Reader Stagecraft suggested the band Christ. (with the period) way back in the first Work Sounds, and I've finally got around to listening. They definitely fits the mold of Wednesday's Work Sounds in that their albums are ambient and not too distracting, but otherwise I'm not sure exactly how to describe it.… »11/23/11 1:30pm 11/23/11 1:30pm

Normally I'd say "Working for the Weekend" is not the attitude you want to have when starting out your work week, but let's be honest: It's almost Thanksgiving here in the States, and the promise of a turkey-fueled binge is tough to ignore. So, for just this once, let's pull through the work week ahead with a little… »11/21/11 9:30am 11/21/11 9:30am

My friend Mark has been telling me to check out the Drive soundtrack for a while. After finally listening, I realized that tracks 6-19—the soundtrack part of the soundtrack—makes for an excellent addition to Work Sounds. »11/16/11 1:30pm 11/16/11 1:30pm

Not feeling ready for the week ahead? While it lacks the literal work-week application of, say, 9 to 5, Arcade Fire's Ready to Start has a nice, motivating drive, and hell... they say the words "Now I'm ready to start." Because who listens to lyrics beyond the refrain, anyway? »11/14/11 9:30am 11/14/11 9:30am